Bellhousing block plate

ABSTRACT

A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheel of an automobile engine including a body adapted for mounting on the bellhousing and having an opening for receiving a portion of an engine starter therethrough, and further including a removable portion adjacent the opening for enlarging the size of the opening such that differently constructed engine starting systems can be accommodated.

United States Patent Schubeck Oct. 15, 1974 [75] Inventor: JOSFPhschubeck Lakewood Complete Book of Engine Swapping, L. A., Calif, Pe-

Ohw terson, 1969, p. 42-46.

[73] Assignee: Scott and Fetzer Company,

Lakewood, Colo.

Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant ExaminerR. H. LazarusAttorney, Agent, or FirmTeare, Teare & Sammon 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A blockplate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheelof an automobile engine including a body adapted for mounting on thebellhousing and having an opening for receiving a portion of an enginestarter therethrough, and further including a removable portion adjacentthe opening for enlarging the size of the opening such that differentlyconstructed engine starting systems can be accommodated.

14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENI um 1 51974 MEI 2W 3 I FIG.6

PATENTED HUT 515174 FIGIO FIGIZ FIGH BELLHOUSING BLOCK PLATE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety bellhousingswhich are constructed so as to contain the fragmented parts of an engineflywheel in the event of an explosion during operation thereof, and moreparticularly, to a new and improved safety block plate construction foruse in conjunction with a bellhousing for enclosing one end of thebellhousing to provide total containment of the flywheel parts, andstill more particularly, to a block plate construction which includes anadapter to enable the block plate to accommodate differently constructedengine starters.-

Generally, a bellhousing is mounted adjacent the rear end of an enginein covering relation with respect to the flywheel. The end of thebellhousing adjacent the engine is substantially totally covered by ablock plate so that, in the event of an explosion or fragmentation ofthe flywheel, all of the parts of the flywheel will be contained by thebody of the bellhousing and the block plate. In such construction, it isnecessary for certain elements of the engine starter to extend throughthe block plate into the interior of the bellhousing for engagement withthe engine flywheel for turning over the engine upon energization of theengine starter motor. To achieve this, an opening is made in the blockplate, and a portion of the engine starter motor frame, as well as thedrive elements thereof, extends through the opening into the interior ofthe bellhousing for operable engagement with the flywheel. Differentengines have flywheels which vary in diameter, and thus, requiredifferently constructed engine starter motors. In the past, the use of adifferent block plate styles has been required for each type of enginestarter. It has, therefore, become desirable to manufacture block platesin one form of construction which is capable of accommodating a numberof different types of engine starters, and thus reduce the number of thestyles or types of block plates from the number previously required toaccommodate such different types of starters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing anew and improved block plate construction for use with safetybellhousings such that a single block plate can accommodate differenttypes of engine starters. More particularly, the block plate includes abody having mounting means thereon for mounting the block plate onthe'bellhousing. An opening is provided in the body for receiving aportion of an engine starter therethrough. The body includes a removableportion adjacent the opening such that the opening can be enlarged toenable the accommodation of differently constructed engine starters.More specifically, the body comprises a generally planar plate made of asubstantially rigid material and the removable portion is formed out ofthe material of the body. The plate is of a generally polygonalconfiguration, in front elevation, being defined by an endlessperipheral edge. The mounting means comprises the plurality of aperturesadjacent the peripheral edge of the body which are adapted to receivefasteners for connecting the body to the bellhousing. The removableportion is at least in part displaced from the general plane of the bodyand such displaced part is disposed adjacent the remainder of the bodyand the opening. The removable portion is generally polygonal inconfiguration and includes one edge which defines the segmental portionof the opening and another edge which is severed from the material ofthe body and is attached thereto by pressured engagement.

By the foregoing arrangement, the block plate can accommodate one formof engine starter which is adapted for driving a flywheel of onepredetermined size when the removable portion is in the attachedposition, whereas, when it is desired to use the block plate in anapplication requiring an'engine starter for driving a flywheel ofanother predetermined size, such as larger or smaller, the removableportion can be detached from the body by the application of a force.thereto, such as by a sharp blow by a hammer or the like, to enlargethe size of the opening as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially insection, side elevation view in reduced scale illustrating a bellhousingin the mounted position on an engine block;

Flg. 2 is a front elevation view in reduced scale of the improved blockplate of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the block plate illustrated in FIG. 2showing one form of engine starter motor as it would appear in relationto the block plate in the installed position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the block plate shown in FIG. 2; andhaving the removable portion detached therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the block plate illustrated in FIG. 2showing another form of engine starter motor as it would appear inrelation to the block plate in the installed position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the block plate shown in FIG. 2 showingthe adapter assembly enlarged;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;Flg. 10 is another form of adapter assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 10;

Flg. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG.10; and

FIG. 13 is a view of the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 10 in reducedscale having the removable portion detached therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is shown in FIG. 1, an engineassembly 1 which includes a block plate 2 mounted in a conventionalmanner between an engine block 4 and a bellhousing 6. As shown, thebellhousing 6 is mounted adjacent the rear end of the engine block 4,and an engine starter motor 8 is mounted alongside and projectsrearwardly beyond the rear end of the engine block 4. Conventionally,the block plate 2 is provided with an' opening, as at 9 (FIG. 2), suchthat the engine starter motor housing, such as at 10, may extend throughthe block plate 2 into the interior of the bellhousing 6. Generally, asshown in FIG. 3 and 4, the engine starter motor 8 includes a drive shaft14 which extends through the motor housing and into the interior of thebellhousing 6 and includes a drive gear 16 mounted therein which isadapted for operable engagement with the engine flywheel, such as at 18.The flywheel 18 is mounted, as by suitable fasteners 19, on a connectingflange 30 which is in turn mounted on the engine crank shaft 21. Theportion of the motor housing 10 within the interior of the bell housing6 is partially cut away, as at 22, such that the peripheral teeth 23 ofthe flywheel 18 can drivingly engage the teeth 24 on the drive gear 16for turning the flywheel 18 to crank the engine 4.

The block plate 2 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 to 9mincluding a generally flat or planar body 26 which may be made of anysuitable rigid material, such as steel or the like. The body 26 is shownas being generally polygonal in front elevation (FIG. 2) and includes anendless peripheral edge 28 which is irregularly shaped so as to conformto the shape of one end, such as the front end, of its associatedbellhousing 6 (FIGS. 1 and 4), and which shape is dependent upon thetype of engine with which the bellhousing is to be used. As shown, theblock plate 2 includes a plurality of apertures 30 adjacent itsperipheral edge 28 which are adapted to receive suitable fasteners, suchas at 32, for attaching, in one instance, the block plate 2 to thebellhousing 6 and, in another instance, for connecting the bellhousing 6and block plate 2 to the engine block 4. Again, the number and spacingof the respective apertures 30 of the block plate 2 will vary accordingto the type of engine with which the bell housing 6 is to be used. Theblock plate 2 further includes a generally centrally located opening 34which is adapted to receive the connecting flange 36 therethrough forconnecting the flywheel 18 thereto. Vented louvres 38 are also providedin the body 26 for venting the interior of the bellhousing 6 fordissipating the heat generated therein.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 26 is shown asincluding an adapter assembly 40 for adapting any one block plate, suchas 2, to enable such to accommodate, in one instance, an engine startermotor, such as at 8, FIGS. 3 and 4,-which is constructed to crank anengine having a flywheel of one predetermined diameter or toaccommodate, in another instance, an engine starter motor, such as at10a, FIG. 6 and 7, which is constructed for cranking the flywheel, suchas 18A, which is of a relatively smaller diameter. More specifically,the adapter assembly 40 enables the drive gear 16A of the engine startermotor 10A to be positioned closer, such as a distance D from the axis ofrotation 27 of the crankshaft 21, than is the drive gear 16 of theengine starter motor 10, such as the distance In the form of the adapterassembly 40 shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the body 26 includes a removableportion or knock-out 41 (FIGS. 2 and 9) which is disposed adjacent theopening 9 and results in an enlargement 43 (FIG. 5) of the opening 9 ina pre-determined direction upon selective removal of the portion 41 fromthe body 26. Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, the knock-out 41 isformed out of the material of the body 26 being stamped out or otherwisesevered therefrom. The knock-out 41 is defined in part by a segmentalportion 46 of the marginal edge 48 of the opening 9 and in its remainderby a continuous cut 50 (FIG. 9) extending from one point 52 on themarginal edge 48 to another spaced point 54 on the marginal edge 48,thus defining a severed edge 51 for the knock-out 41 and a marginal edgeportion 53 for the enlargement 43 of the opening 9 (FIG. 8).

In the form shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the knock-out 41 includes one part56 which is displaced from the general plane of the body 26 and anotherpart 58 (shown crosshatched in FIG. 9 for the purposes of illustration)which is generally co-planar with the general plane of the body 26. Asshown in FIG. 8, the displaced part 56 is displaced a distance, such asindicated by the dimension A, which is less than the thickness, as isindicated by the dimension B, of the body 26 so that when the knock-out41 is intact on the body 26, the severed edge 51 remains in pressuredengagement with the marginal edge portion 53. In a typical applicationhaving a body 26 of a thickness 8 equal to approximately 0.125 inches, adiaplacement distance A equal to approximately 0.060 inches has beenfound to be quite satisfactory. The coplanar part 58 is retained in thegeneral plane of the body 26 so as to provide clearance for thebellhousing flange, indicated by the phantom lines at 59, to enableflush engagement between the flange 52 of the bellhousing 6 and theblock plate 2 when they are in the installed position as shown in FIG.1.

In practice, the entire knock-out 41 is initially stamped or otherwisedisplaced from the general plane of the body 26 the desired distance,such as the distance A, and then, the coplanar part 58 is restamped soas to be returned to the general plane of the body 26. Such restampingoperation causes the material of the knock-out 41 adjacent the coplanarpart 58 to be moved away from the material of the knock-out 41 adjacentthe displaced part 56 thereby forcing the severed edge 51 into tightpressured engagement with the confronting marginal edge portion 52 forretaining the knock-out 41 connected to the body 26. When desired, aforce, such as a blow from a hammer or the like, can be applied to theknock-out 41, preferably in the direction of the displacement, toseparate the knock-out 41 from the remainder of the body 26.

In the particular form of the adapter assembly 40 shown in FIGS. 8 and9, the knock-out 41 is generally crescent-shaped, when viewedin frontelevation, having its severed edge 51 extending generally arcuatelybetween the points 52 and 54 on the marginal edge 48 and defining amajor side for the knock-out 41 having a length longer than the oppositeside defined by the segmental portion 46 of the marginal edge 48.Further, in this arrangement, the knock-out 41 is formed in the body 6downwardly and inwardly with respect to the geometrical center of theopening 9. Thus, the block plate 2 can be used with the knock-out 41intact with one type of motor starter, such as 8, having a drive gear 16which is required to be positioned a predetermined distance, such as thedistance C, from the axis of rotation 27 of the crank shaft 21 fordriving a flywheel, such as 18, of one predetermined diameter. In suchinstance, the coplanar portion 58 is shown having a bolt hole 63 (FIGS.2 and 9) for receiving a fastener 65 (FIGS. 3 and 4) therethrough formounting the starter frame 10. Whereas, the block plate 2 can be usedwith the knock-out 41 removed with a motor starter, such as 8A, having adrive gear 16A which is required to be positioned at another distance,such as the distance D, which is radially closer to the axis of rotationof the crank shaft 21 for driving a flywheel 18A which is of a smallerdiameter than the flywheel 18.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated, generally at 70, anotherform of an adapter assembly of the present invention. As shown, theadapter assembly 70 is formed in a block plate 2A which has a body 74.The body 74 is shown as including an opening 76 which is adapted forreceiving a portion of the engine starter motor (not shown) ashereinbefore described, and

which is defined by an endless, such as circular, marl ginal edge 78.

The adapter assembly 70 includes a removable portion or knock-out 80which is disposed adjacent the opening 76 and which, when detached fromthe body 74, forms an enlargement 81 (FIG. 13) for the opening 76. Inthe form shown, the knock-out 80 is of a generally crescent-shape, asseen in front elevation in FIG. 10, and is defined along one side by asegmental portion 82 of the marginal edge 78 and along another side by acontinuous cut 84 in the body 74 which extends from one point, as at 86,on the marginal edge 78 to another point 88 on the marginal edge 76which is spaced from the point 86 and which defines a severed edge 90for the knock-out 80 and a marginal edge 92 for the enlargement 81 whichhas a length greater than the segmental portion 82 of the marginal edge78. ln the form shown in FIGS. to 13, the knock-out 80 is positionedradially outwardly from the center of the opening 76 and the geometricalcenter of the body 74 such that the enlargement-81 is formed in the bodyin a direction outwardly and slightly downwardly with respect to thecenter of the opening 76.

In the form of the adapter assembly 70 shown in FIG. 10, the knock-out80 includes a displaced part 94 which is displaced out of the generalplane of the body 74, such as a distance E, and a pair of spaced,generally coplanar parts 96 and 97 (which are also shown crosshatchedfor purposes of illustration) which extend outwardly from one anotherand outwardly from the opposite sides of the displaced part 94. It hasbeen found that a displacement distance E equal to approximately 0.075inches for a block plate having a thickness F (FIG. 13) equal toapproximately 0.125 inches has resulted in a highly satisfactoryperformance.

In practice, the entire knock-out 80 is stamped or otherwise displacedout of the general plane of the body 74, and then, the coplanar parts 96and 97 are restamped so as to be returned to the general plane of thebody 74. Such restamping operation results in spreading of the co-planarparts 96 and 97 causing them to move outwardly away from one another andaway from the displaced part 94 such that the severed edge 90 of theknock-out 80 contacts the marginal edge 92 of the enlargement 81 inpressured engagement through substantially its entire length securelyretaining the knockout 80 on the body 74. Upon application of a force,such as a blow from a hammer or the like, the knockout 80 can be removedfrom the body 74, when desired.

By this arrangement, the enlargement 81 is made in the direction of theperipheral edge of the body 74 and generally radially outwardly from thegeometrical center of the opening 76 such that, when the knock-out 80 isintact, the block plate 2A is suitable for use with an engine having aflywheel with a diameter of one predetermined size, whereas, when theknock-out 80 is removed, the block plate 2A is adapted for use with anengine having a flywheel with a predetermined larger diameter.

Further, the restamping operation returns the coplanar parts 96 and 97into the general plane of the body 74 which provides clearance andenables a flush, tight fitting contact between the block plate 2A andthe bellhousing flange, the inner outline of which is indicated by thephantom line at 99.

I claim:

1. A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosingthe flywheel of an engine comprising,

a body,

mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate on saidbellhousing,

an opening in said body for receiving a portion of an engine starter,

said body includes a removable portion adjacent said opening forenlarging said opening to enable accomodation of differently constructedengine starters, and

said removable portion is severed from the material of said body and isattached to said body by pressured engagement being adapted to beseparated from said body by the application of a force thereto.

2. A block plate for use in a bellhousing of the type for mounting on anengine to enclose the flywheel of the engine comprising,

a body,

mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate between saidbellhousing and said engme,

an opening in said body for receiving a portion of one type of enginestarter therein,

said body includes a removable portion severably connected to theremaining portion of said body being adapted to be severed therefrom bythe application of force thereto, and

said removable portion is disposed adjacent to said opening forenlarging the opening upon its severance from the remaining portion ofsaid body to enable the accommodation of a portion of another type ofengine starter within said opening.

3. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removableportion is formed by partially separating said body along a linedefining the enlargement of said opening.

4. A block plate in accordance with claim 3, wherein said opening isdefined by an endless marginal edge,

and

said line commences at one point on the marginal edge defining saidopening and terminates at another point on said marginal edge.

5. A block plate in accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening isdefined by an endless marginal edge formed in the material of said body,

the periphery of said removable portion is defined in part by asegmental portion of the marginal edge forming said opening, and

the remainder of the periphery of said removable portion is defined bythe segmental portion of the opening defining the enlargement of saidopening.

7 8 6. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removableportion includes a part disposed in said removable portion is formed outof the material of generally coplanar relation with the remaining masaidbody. terial of said body to enable flush mounting of said 7. A blockplate in accordance with claim 6, wherein block plate on saidbellhousing.

12. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, said plate is of agenerally polygonal configuration in wherein front elevation beingdefined by an endless periphsaid opening is generally circular inconfiguration eral edge. when said removable portion is intact, and 8. Ablock plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portionis generally crescent-shaped 0 in configuration including one arcuateshaped edge said body comprises a generally planar, substantiallydefining a segmental portion of said opening.

rigid material. 13. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, 9. A blockplate in accordance with claim 2, wherein wherein said removable portionis generally crescent-shaped said mounting means comprises a pluralityof aperincluding a major edge detachably connected to tures in said bodyfor receiving fasteners for the remainder of said body and a minor edgedefinmounting said body to said bellhousing and said ening a segmentalportion of said opening. gine. 14. A block plate in accordance withclaim 2, 10. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein whereinsaid opening is generally circular in configuration said removableportion is at least in part displaced being offset with respect to thegeometrical center from the general plane of said body. of said body,and 11. A block plate in accordance with claim 6, said removable portionis disposed radially outwardly wherein with respect to the geometricalcenter of said opensaid displaced part is adjacent to the remainder ofing.

said body and said opening, and

1. A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosingthe flywheel of an engine comprising, a body, mounting means on saidbody for mounting said block plate on said bellhousing, an opening insaid body for receiving a portion of an engine starter, said bodyincludes a removable portion adjacent said opening for enlarging saidopening to enable accomodation of differently constructed enginestarters, and said removable portion is severed from the material ofsaid body and is attached to said body by pressured engagement beingadapted to be separated from said body by the application of a forcethereto.
 2. A block plate for use in a bellhousing of the type formounting on an engine to enclose the flywheel of the engine comprising,a body, mounting means on said body for mounting said block platebetween said bellhousing and said engine, an opening in said body forreceiving a portion of one type of engine starter therein, said bodyincludes a removable portion severably connected to the remainingportion of said body being adapted to be severed therefrom by theapplication of force thereto, and said removable portion is disposedadjacent to said opening for enlarging the opening upon its severancefrom the remaining portion of said body to enable the accommodation of aportion of another type of engine starter within said opening.
 3. Ablock plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portionis formed by partially separating said body along a line defining theenlargement of said opening.
 4. A block plate in accordance with claim3, wherein said opening is definEd by an endless marginal edge, and saidline commences at one point on the marginal edge defining said openingand terminates at another point on said marginal edge.
 5. A block platein accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening is defined by an endlessmarginal edge formed in the material of said body, the periphery of saidremovable portion is defined in part by a segmental portion of themarginal edge forming said opening, and the remainder of the peripheryof said removable portion is defined by the segmental portion of theopening defining the enlargement of said opening.
 6. A block plate inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is formed out ofthe material of said body.
 7. A block plate in accordance with claim 6,wherein said plate is of a generally polygonal configuration in frontelevation being defined by an endless peripheral edge.
 8. A block platein accordance with claim 2, wherein said body comprises a generallyplanar, substantially rigid material.
 9. A block plate in accordancewith claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality ofapertures in said body for receiving fasteners for mounting said body tosaid bellhousing and said engine.
 10. A block plate in accordance withclaim 2, wherein said removable portion is at least in part displacedfrom the general plane of said body.
 11. A block plate in accordancewith claim 6, wherein said displaced part is adjacent to the remainderof said body and said opening, and said removable portion includes apart disposed in generally coplanar relation with the remaining materialof said body to enable flush mounting of said block plate on saidbellhousing.
 12. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidopening is generally circular in configuration when said removableportion is intact, and said removable portion is generallycrescent-shaped in configuration including one arcuate shaped edgedefining a segmental portion of said opening.
 13. A block plate inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is generallycrescent-shaped including a major edge detachably connected to theremainder of said body and a minor edge defining a segmental portion ofsaid opening.
 14. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidopening is generally circular in configuration being offset with respectto the geometrical center of said body, and said removable portion isdisposed radially outwardly with respect to the geometrical center ofsaid opening.